Figure 1.--Here we see grandsons Edward and William playing chess outside their grandparents home about 1880. The boys wear suit jackets that are similarly cut. Edward wears matching trousers, but William striped trousers. Npte William's top hat behind his chair. |
One especially interesting aspect of the Robinson family collection here is that it provides glimses of boys' and family activities during the late 19th century. Now film speeds did not permit action photography. Some activities like chess which were more commonly done inside have been brought outside in the sunshine to make photographs without flash possible. Still we have fascinating climses of different activities. Clearly cricket was popular for the boys, although we do not know if a school or village sport is involved. The bulky cameras and equipment of the day may have prevented the phoographer from actually taking photographs at the boys' schools.
Now film speeds did not permit action photography. Some activities like chess which were more commonly done inside have been brought outside in the sunshine to make photographs without flash possible. We see both family Robinson grandsons, Edward on the left and William on the right playing chess about 1880. It was taken on the verandah outside the main entrance to the house and a large backdrop was hung from its roof, presumably to give this picture the impression of being professionally taken. The photo was undoubtedly a posed shot and no doubt the furniture was taken from the study or dining room (there is a smaller door leading directly in to a room just off the end of this picture, which is still there today).
Note that William has a rather fine top hat behind his chair. He was probably about 17 at this time. It is also interesting to see Edward's footwear - his shoes appear to be house shoes or slippers and do not have a hard sole to them. Edward is wearing the same suit as in a previous photograph, so it is likely they were taken at the same time. William, however, is wearing a non-matching pair of striped trousers and what is probably a dark grey or brown cutaway coat (which I believe were just coming into fashion at that time?).
William's haircut is also interesting in that he appears to have a quiff, and would not look out of place today!
Clearly cricket was popular for the boys, although we do not know if a school or village sport is involved.
We believe the boys attended a public school, although we only have information about William at this time. There are several photographs of Edwsard and william with boys we believe to be school friends. We have noted that the boys lived in Chart Sutton, a small village about 4 miles southeast of Maidstone. The next door village to Chart Sutton, is Sutton Valence, the home of Sutton Valence school which is in the English Public/Boarding school tradition. The school is no more than 1.5 miles from their home. We have found that school records show that the Rev T. Robinson of Chart Sutton Vicarage had two sons who were at Sutton Valence School. It was commonly called Sutton Valence Grammar School during the latter part of the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries. The two boys were Thomas and William. There is, however, no record of Edward. [Shaw] The majority of the photos in the album are local topographical shots. Our HBC contributor reports, "There is indeed a single shot of Sutton Vallance Grammar School in it (I even saw the building when I went to the area). It is, of course, perfectly possible, perhaps likely that the boys attended the school. Perhaps they were day boys, although it was, and is quite often a rule that school members board, no matter how near their homes may be to the school. This would explain why there are several photographs of the boys at home with their school friends. The bulky cameras and equipment of the day may have prevented the phoographer from actually taking photographs of the boys at the school.
Thomas Robinson was enrolled at the Sytton Vallance Schoo; at aged 14 on May 21, 1868. He entered the School as a Lambe's Scholar. He left at Easter 1869 to "prepare for the Navy".
William entered the school at aged 11 during April 1874. He was at the school for 5 years and left in 1879. William is of course the boy the album the images in this section come from.
The school has no record of Edward M. Robinson. The school reports, "There is no mention for Edward M. Robinson, so it woiuld appear that he did not come to the School. Perhaps his father had moved on by the time he was old enough to come. The School did not have any magazines until 1881 so we have no means of finding out what the boys did whilst they at school." [Shaw] This is an interesting one. I wonder why? He was living there at the time and old enough.
One would assume given the father's social status that Edward did attend a public school, but we do not know which one.
Shaw, Colin. Sutton Valence School Archivist, E-mail message tp Philip Hutchinson, January 25, 2005.
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